Over the next few days, Damon had a little more time, so he spent every free moment with me. He was extremely caring and considerate. He took me for walks and to the lake where we had a lot of fun, coming back soaked every time. We also spent more time with his friends over meals, where I felt more and more comfortable engaging in conversation with everyone.
Some time later, Alpha started traveling on business and took Damon and the others with him. They usually returned after two or three days, trying to keep an eye on the Pack.
Days like these were spent with Luna Beckie and the others, helping with various activities. I became friends with them and knew that we could count on each other in any situation. Another day came when Damon had to leave with Zack on business. This time they were to return in the late afternoon. I felt strangely anxious today, so I held on to him longer than normal. I looked at him worriedly, afraid something might happen to him.
"Take care of yourself. I'm worried about you. I feel like something's wrong" I placed my hand on his cheek with the scar and he took it in his hand.
"If you're worried, I'll stay" He kissed my forehead.
"We both know you need to go" I looked down.
"We'll be fine. We're just going to talk to another group about their safety. Their attacks are becoming more and more frequent and they asked us for help. We'll be back soon." He kissed me tenderly and drove away with the others. I tried to convince myself that everything would be fine and went with Beckie and her son to the main house. After sorting out the documents and having dinner together, I and the others started preparing for the next venture.
Knowing that our men would be returning soon, we went outside the house, walking with the sleeping baby. The anxiety did not leave me even for a moment. I couldn't wait for Damon to come back to know he was okay. Suddenly an alarm sounded and a terrified Beckie, cradling the baby, looked at me in horror.
"We have been attacked! We must go to the shelter!" She called out as she headed towards the main house, calling for the rest to quickly take cover. A terrible cold pierced my body.
Is that why I felt this way today? Our strongest warriors were gone and suddenly there was an attack?
As I hurried along with Luna and the others, I heard the sounds of fighting behind me. They got here very quickly. The warriors rushed to defend the others, ready to give their lives to defend the pack.
Entering the house, everyone went down the hall to the large living room where, literally in the middle of the floor, there was a large open hatch leading to the shelter. I noticed a lock on the hatch that could be locked from the inside. Everyone hurried inside, helping the others.
I was about to enter right after Beckie when suddenly I heard a little girl crying. Ignoring Luna's call, I ran into the corridor and nervously started looking around for the child. Two wolves were fighting right there, barking and biting each other. Right next to them, I noticed a girl hiding under one of the cabinets. Without thinking about the danger, I ran to her and quickly pulled her out of her hiding place. I grabbed her hand tightly and started running with her to the shelter when a strange man appeared in the corridor. Walking confidently towards us, he smiled sinisterly.
"Take 'em"
More people emerged from behind him. Wasting no time, I ran into the living room and pushed the girl inside, praying that nothing would happen to her.
"Close it!" I screamed, grabbing the hatch and closing it as quickly as possible. Suddenly, I was pushed hard onto nearby tables. I moaned in pain as I watched the attackers try and fail to open the hatch. I breathed a momentary relief that I made it in time. The man who had been giving orders earlier entered the living room. He looked murderously at his men who failed to obey his orders and then his eyes fell on me. He slowly approached me and crouched down right in front of me, looking at me curiously.
"I didn't know Alpha had a thing for humans. What's an ordinary human like you doing in his pack?" He asked me in his disgusting voice. For some reason I felt strong. I wasn't afraid to face him.
"I could ask the same thing. Why would someone like YOU attack this pack, knowing what the consequences would be?" I snorted with arrogance, which only made him smile more.
"You'll be a nice toy when I take over here. Do you even know who you're talking to?" He scratched his chin, obviously amused by his conversation with me.
"Someone insignificant. After all, you won't make it out alive" I said very dangerous words that could have resulted in my death. The smile disappeared from his face. Grabbing me by the throat, he lifted me off the ground, glaring at me murderously.
Tess! Are you okay?! I heard Damon's nervous voice.
Yes. We're in the living room.
We'll be there soon!
I knew they would be here soon, but I had a problem at the moment and couldn't be happy about their return.
"You will regret these words. But don't worry, I won't end you that easily. You'll suffer a bit."
Suddenly, sounds of fighting could be heard outside.
"Alpha is back with his warriors!" His men called out. "We won't be able to stop them!"
I looked at him with the expression 'I told you so?' Which pissed him off even more. He was very confident that he would win because he didn't break my neck. He angrily threw me towards the tables and if I'm honest, it hurt a lot more than before. I felt incredible pain in my left arm, which was most likely broken. Drops of blood began to flow from my cut head, my legs hurt from the impact...
"Get out, rat! Let's end this once and for all!" Zack called out furiously as he entered the house after dealing with the others.
The man was waiting by the hatch for Alpha and the others, arms crossed and a sly smile on his face. Zack hurried into the living room with Damon, eyes black, ready to fight. They were relieved when they saw the hatch closed. I groaned in pain as I tried to get up and was noticed by them. Damon started to approach me but Zack stopped him. They couldn't show the man that he cared about me. He growled at him in anger.
"A, this?" He pointed a cheeky finger at me. "This will be my new toy after I'm done with you. She's saucy, but that's what I like the most" He laughed, looking at the Alpha. "Coming back to more serious matters. As you may remember, this little wolf killed my brother a few years ago. I want revenge. I came to fight him, and when I'm done with him, it will be your turn." He laughed mockingly.
"We'll handle this outside," Damon growled menacingly, leaving with everyone else.
Baby, hold on. I'll help you in a minute. He comforted me but I couldn't let him fight. He was a warrior and the man who came here was certainly much stronger.
No! Damon, you can't fight him! With great difficulty, I climbed out of the overturned tables and headed towards the exit. Some conversations could be heard and then fighting and terrible barking began. I tried to get to the exit as quickly as possible and see what was happening. My heart clenched at the sight of their fight. Iriel bit and scratched along with his opponent. The second unkempt wolf with dirty brown fur was slowly starting to win.
More and more wounds began to appear on his body. Iriel grew weaker by the moment until he was finally knocked to the ground. The opponent was about to bite into his neck when I screamed with all my might.
"Damon fight!"
At the last second he managed to avoid the fatal blow. He kicked him off with his hind legs and the fight started again. This time he fought with greater determination. He managed to knock him to the ground and bite his neck. The opponent struggled nervously, but Iriel clenched his jaw even tighter, ending his life.
"Take care of the others!" Zack gave the order and our warriors quickly dealt with the remnants. Iriel turned back into Damon and fell to the ground, bleeding heavily. Somehow I reached him to check if he was alive. With tears in my eyes, I held his hand and watched his chest slowly rise and fall.
"Tess!" The alpha walked over to me, checking my condition. "What about the rest?"
"They're safe in the shelter. Everyone made it." I didn't take my eyes off Damon.
"Ian! Tell the people it's safe to leave. I'll be at the clinic with the rest" He called out to Beta and carefully picked me up as the other two warriors took Damon away.
"I'll help you. You need a doctor too" He explained as he walked with the others. Staring at my partner, I allowed myself to be carried to one of the rooms, where they brought the seriously injured Damon.